
Welcome to the FSX Mikoyan-and-Gurevich Design Bureau MiG-21MF Fishbed!
This cockpit guide and startup checklist should aid you in manually starting up your Mig-21 from a cold and dark state, WITHOUT using Ctrl-E or the quickstart option.

Cockpit Familiarization



These labels are from memory without current sim access, but almost all of them should be correct, although the precise technical term may not be used. I could not remember the specifics of some of the many switches on the right panel, but they all need to be activated, so just go with that!
Let's begin:
Start by pressing "Shift + 2" to bring up the following menu:

Press the buttons to activate the chocks, ladder, pilot, and starter vehicle.
Left to right, the buttons are: chocks, ladder, pilot, starter vehicle, quick start key, helmet visor up/down, pilot model old/new.
You should now have the chocks, ladder, pilot, and starter vehicle visible in various sim views, such as the spot view.
Your "brakes" message should appear in the sim when the chocks are on.
Systems:
Cycle the shutoff switch on the left side of the cockpit. Don't leave it on, just cycle it to ensure your throttle is at idle.
Next, turn on almost everything on the right side of your cockpit. Batteries, alternator, generator, and all systems.
You can leave the gunsight, nav lights, and SPRD system switches off if you desire.
All other switches that you see on the above screenshot of the right side of the cockpit MUST be on!
At this time, if you wish, you can set your munitions and NDB/ADF frequencies. Munitions (drop tanks, missiles, rockets, show in spot view)
The NDB frequency box allows you to pre-set NDB frequencies that you will use through your flight. Upon closing this menu, the frequencies will show up on a placard on the right side of the cockpit, and all you have to do is press the button corresponding to your desired frequency. It's a very neat system!
Move to the left side of the cockpit!
Turn on the aileron boost switch!
Turn on all of those engine system switches!
Nose cone to automatic (abtomat)
Starter selector switch in the upper most position! (IMPORTANT!)
Press the starter button!
........................
Your Engine N2 RPM should rise and hover around 19% for a few seconds.
It will then kick over and start up very rapidly.
Your engine will idle at.........N1 = approx 37%.......N2 = approx 57%.
-----------------------------------
Visual indications that your engine has started.
---------------------------------
1. Red and yellow caution lights will extinguish (go out).
2. Smoke will stop spewing from the plane in spot view.
3. You are able to full adjust engine output with the throttle with minimal hesitation.
4. The engine will not fail when the truck is disconnected.
....at this time...your engine should have stabilized.
Disconnect the starter truck.
Make sure you are at idle, and release the chocks and ladder.
Pitot heat on! (Switched directly in front of joystick on lower central panel. Coloured gray.)
Lights on as desired. Taxi light is the upper most position on the marked switch on the left side of the cockpit.
Nav light 3 position switch (brightness) is on right side of panel. Upper most position is dimmest for daytime ops.
Lower flaps one notch to take-off position.
Set transponder to appropriate setting if needed (shift + 3 or 4 has default radio stack for convenience. One of those options also has default GPS for convenience.)
TRIM! Takeoff (and landing) trim will be correct when the marked green light illuminates in your annunciation box.
.....................
Taxi out! Check your brakes.
Turn on gunsight if desired.
Line up with runway.
Verify trim is set for takeoff (illuminated light.)
When trimmed properly, the aircraft should lift off of the ground on it's own at about 190 knots. You can help it up earlier at about 160 knots if you wish.
Enjoy your flight!
Hold brakes until passing 90% on the throttles, then release and off you go!
EDIT/NOTICE: The drogue chute release button is actually the other white button near the flaps switches further back on the left side. I picked the wrong one!


